Colorado rabbits with tentacles are stirring headlines and local anxiety in Fort Collins as residents report sightings of wild cottontails bearing eerie, wart-like growths resembling horns, spikes, or tentacles. What appears grotesque is actually the result of a known wildlife virus—and experts emphasize there’s little cause for alarm.
Outlandish Sightings Strike Social Media and Colorado Homes
Described as “zombie rabbits,” “Frankenstein bunnies,” and “alien creatures,” these afflicted rabbits prompted shock among local observers. One resident, Susan Mansfield, told 9NEWS it looked as if “black quills or black toothpicks” were protruding from the rabbit’s mouth—and the creature survived through winter only for the growths to expand the following year People.com1.
Videos and posts went viral across platforms like X, Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook, drawing both horror and morbid fascination from viewers Indiatimes1.
A Known Cause: The Shope Papilloma Virus
Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) officials quickly confirmed the cause: the Shope papilloma virus, or cottontail rabbit papillomavirus (CRPV), a strain of papillomavirus that affects wild leporids AP News1People.comWikipedia. This virus has a documented history, first identified in the 1930s by Dr. Richard E. Shope, and helped scientists understand the viral origins of certain cancers—laying groundwork for HPV research AP NewsWikipedia.
The virus induces keratinous growths—wart-like tumors—on rabbits’ heads and faces. Typically benign, they can elongate into horn- or tentacle-like shapes, evoking the mythos of jackalopes in North American folklore AP News. These tumors may disappear when rabbits’ immune systems win the battle—unless they impede eating or vision People.comAP News.
Health Risks and Veterinary Concerns
Though visually unsettling, CRPV poses no threat to humans or pets. It spreads mainly through biting insects—ticks, fleas, mosquitoes—particularly active in warm months AxiosAP NewsNew York Post.
For wild rabbits, the virus is typically non-fatal and transient. CPW advises against euthanizing infected animals unless they are unable to eat or drink People.comAP News. However, domestic rabbits face higher risks. Infected pets may require veterinary attention—and in severe cases, surgical removal of tumors to prevent malignant outcomes People.comNew York PostThe Economic Times.
Public Guidance and Wildlife Safety
Authorities urge residents to observe the rabbits from a distance. Feeding, handling, or attempting treatment of wild animals is discouraged Indiatimes. Reporting sightings helps wildlife agencies monitor the spread and prevalence of the virus across regions FOX WeatherThe Economic Times.
Broader Significance and Mythology
The phenomenon highlights intersections between folklore and biology. CRPV’s growths likely inspired centuries-old jackalope legends. On the scientific front, research on Shope papilloma virus has provided early models for viral oncogenesis, influencing human papillomavirus studies and vaccine development WikipediaAP News.
